Erecting and dismantling access/working platforms in the workplace
1.3 State the organisational procedures developed to report and rectify inappropriate information and unsuitable resources and how they are implemented.
The procedures to report and rectify information which is not useful and unsuitable resources you should inform your site foreman as he will tell the bosses about it if something need to be done, tool box talks where important information can be shared if necessary. They are implemented on the site by all employees being aware they have responsibility which they should know about and all staff on site is trained which means they know the site rules and regulations. The access to organisational procedures is the individual’s responsibility and the foreman’s.
1.4 Describe different types of information, their source and how they are interpreted in relation to:
drawings, specifications, schedules, method statements, risk assessments, manufacturers’ information and regulations governing buildings.
Information to employees is available in many forms, drawing and specifications are to guide the employee how the job is required to be complete and what tools will be required. It may also have a time scale or a schedule which can be often found in emails to keep jobs on track.
The current legislation for site mangers should be available in folders on site but it can also be found online on the HSE website and it is in place to keep everybody safe on site. Employees should also be responsible to know where is can be found and know the relevant legislation.
Any manufacturer’s information should be found with the product which is often delivered to site and the instructions and information should be followed to make sure the job is carried out productively and successfully and so there is minimised risk involved.
Method statements should be in the site office and can be found online in the form of an email. They should be made available to employees before they start a job and agreed. They are to identify risks that the job could entail.
Risk assessments are carried out if any risks can be identified. Sites will have common risk and specified risks to each site. They are to identify risks and put a plan in place to make sure the person carrying out the job Is protected from any risks. Also, they should keep other people on site safe and visitors. They are usually kept in folders on site in the office. Everyone should know how to get hold of the risk assessments.
The current legislation for site mangers should be available in folders on site but it can also be found online on the HSE website and it is in place to keep everybody safe on site. Employees should also be responsible to know where it can be found and know the relevant legislation.
Building regulations govern the structure of the building they are incorporated into the specifications and drawings. They state how the building should be built to ensure it is structurally safe and healthy to live and use. The local council building offices can provide you with the building regulations. You can phone the building control office or email to get advice.
2.1 Describe their responsibilities under current legislation and official guidance whilst working. In the workplace, in confined spaces, below ground level, at height, with tools and equipment, with materials and substances, with movement/storage of materials and by manual handling and mechanical lifting.
HASAWA (health and safety at work act)-the health and safety at work act states that everyone in the work environment has a reasonability to look after them self as well as others safety and wellbeing. The health and safety at work act gives guidelines to other legislations and regulations on how to work safe.
CSR (confine spaces regulations)-when working in a confined space you should firstly try to avoid working in confined spaces in the first place (e.g. by working outside).secondly when working in a confined space you should follow a safe system of work from a risk assessment and method statement , furthermore all employees should be competent to work in this type of environment. Finally when working in a confined space you should work in a ventilated area and have appropriate emergency arrangements
Working below ground level-when working in a confined space or below ground you should firstly try to avoid working in these areas in the first place (e.g. by working outside). Secondly when working in these areas you should follow a safe system of work from a risk assessment and method statement, furthermore all employees should be competent to work in this type of environment. Finally, when working in a confined space or in below ground level you should work in a ventilated area and have appropriate emergency arrangements. When working in trenches make sure that the sides are supported and and proped securely. Alway make sure you work in a team and others know you are there.
WAHR (working at height regulations)-when working at a height you should firstly again try to avoid working at height in the first place. Secondly if you have to work at a height you should make you have a safe system of work by using a risk assessment and method system to plan your work and use appropriate access equipment and any PPE required. Finally you need to be competent when working at heights.
PUWER-(provision of the use of work equipment regulations)-this regulation makes sure every occupant is trained and competent to use power tools safely
COSHH-(control of substances hazardous to health)- this regulation states that everyone should depose of all waste correctly so people and the environment doesn’t get harmed
MHOR -(manual handling operations regulations)-this regulation give you guidelines on how to safely move resources to prevent injuries.
Controlled measures-to prevent people from injuries, keep them safe and to comply with all regulation all employees should be given: site induction, toolbox talks, appropriate training, risk assessment, method statement to help them work in a safe manner.
2.2 Describe the organisational security procedures for tools, equipment and personal belongings in relation to site, workplace, company and operative.
The site security should be covered by the company and if the risks remain at night, night site operatives should be employed. Lock boxes should be provided by the company, insured for theft and used by employees overnight so the tools are secure, any equipment should be stored in their correct boxes and in the lock box or container. Any personal belonging should be stored safely out of the way to minimise the risk of them being taken. Also, at the end of the day the site should be locked securely with gates and keys kept by one person, such as the foreman or boss.
2.3 Explain what the accident reporting procedures are and who is responsible for making the reports.
How you should report an accident:
When an injury occurs, person must report to site foreman and should be noted in accident book. If injuries can be attended to on site, then the first aider should be called to deal with the situation. If the injury is serious then ambulance should be called, A&E may be required. After, measures should be put in place, so the same injury can try to be prevented. You should also report near misses to prevent and accident happening.
3.2 explain why, when and how personal protective equipment (PPE)should be used, relating to erecting and dismantling access/working platforms, and the types, purpose and limitations of
each type
All health and safety control equipment come with manufactures use guidelines and instructions on how to use the equipment safely and effectively. These should be followed at all times. Any instructions should be available to anybody on site who is to use the equipment. But anyone who uses it should also have adequate training for the equipment and should know how to use it correctly. If they are unsure on how to use it or instructions are not available, they should ask someone who can get the instructions or someone who knows how to use it correctly. Personal protective equipment will assist in preventing injury to your body. It will have its limitations in protecting you. There is only so much pressure safety boots and helmets can take when protecting you. Personal protective equipment should always be used when needed and when required too, for example a hi-vis must always be worn on site because your more visible within the surrounding area and therefore less likely to be hit by work machinery / vehicles etc, safety helmets are also a requirement when working on site to protect from any possible accidents damaging your head. Steel toe caps must always be worn too as they protect you from damage to your feet if accidents where heavy / sharp items manage to connect with them, other personal protective equipment like ear defenders, barrier cream, sun cream, goggles, gloves, overalls, knee pads and dusts masks are to be used when needed to suit your working environment. All will wear out and need replacing, using scratched goggles or worn gloves can in itself be hazardous. Harness may be required to be used on some sites depending on the severity of possible hazards.
3.3 State how emergencies should be responded to in accordance with organisational authorisation and personal skills when involved with fires, spillages, injuries and other task-related hazards.
If there is a fire the first thing that should be done is the alarm should be raised, then the fire should be tackled with the appropriate fire extinguisher if it will make a difference. If you hear the alarm, then you should go to your nearest fire exit and leave all tools and equipment. Everyone should end up at the fire assembly point.
If spillages are found or occur, ensure you are aware of what the substance is and if you are able to clear it up the appropriate cleaning substance. You should make sure the area is safe and if the floor is wet then ensure the wet floor sign is up. Also find where the spillage if from to prevent the leak continuing. If the spillage is too big or a chemical which you shouldn’t touch, then you should notify the site foreman or boss.
If an accident occurs in the workplace you should inform the sites first aider. If the injury is serious, you should stay with the injured person and have someone else ring the ambulance. Any accidents should be reported in the accident book and ensure the foreman is informed.
4.1 describe the characteristics, quality, uses, limitations and defects associated with the resources in relation to:
All access equipment is temporary to gain access and egress to a work area. With use they will wear out and fail regular check will identify faults and prevent failure as the item can be disposed of. Ladders are only to be used for access they should not be worked of and you must retain 3 points of contact at all times. They must be secured at the top and bottom to prevent slipping. Step ladders and ladders should not be over reached. Made from aluminium and can become damaged and should not then be used. If covered in paint you cannot see any defects. Crawler boards are aluminium frame with board attached often used for access over roof areas where it may be fragile and for safety access to place of work. Step ladders ore used for low level access and varies in sizes to suit the work. All should be fully opened up before use. Podium steps have a working platform at the top step with hand rails to make working are safe from falling off. Always close door after entering the working platform. Podium steps are usually for higher level work compared to the platform step which can on or two steps used for low access to work areas. Trestles are standalone props to take crawler boards or scaffold planks. The scaffold plank should have four trestles supporting it’s length. With crawler boards you must consult the manufacture’s information as they can vary in strength on the design type to establish the support required. Proprietor towers or mobile towers the difference being the mobile tower has wheels for ease of movement. Bur not easily moved on rough ground. Both will require PASMA trained personnel to erect it. Proprietary equipment has standard sections from the manufacturer’s that fit together and are aluminium light weight. Where are non-proprietary towers will use traditional scaffold tubes and boards which can take longer to erect and will require a competent scaffolder to erect it. Do not move mobile towers when a person is on it. Signs that can be found on scaffolding are;
Scaffolding incomplete.
Caution of ladder use.
Always wear safety harness.
Prohibition notice not to use.
Scaffolding inspection tag giving dates of what was inspected.
Do not alter scaffolding.
Check with supervisor before use.
Electric cables overhead.
The limitations are people ignore them, they get damaged and not replaced or cannot be seen clearly.
Tools used to erect traditional scaffolding are podger and swivel spanner, ratchet spanner and podger. Batter drill driver and spanner socket. Tape measure and magnetic level. Proprietary scaffolding requires no tools for erection and dismantling. All tools will wear out and need replacing.
4.3 State how the resources should be used correctly and how problems associated with the resources are reported.
Resources should be used in accordance with manufactures instructions, so they are assembly correctly and safely and if there are problems with resources then the foreman or boss should informed so they can sort the problems out.
4.5 Describe any potential hazards associated with the resources and method of work.
Some potential hazards in the workplace with resources and methods of work include injury from tools, falls, trips and slips from risk on site, lifting injuries from incorrect lifting technique. Exposure to hazardous substance is another one. Environmental risks associated to asbestos and materials and resources can collect mould and bacteria if not stored correctly before use.
4.5 Describe how to calculate quantity of equipment required associated with the method/procedure to erect and dismantle access equipment/working platforms.
I would measure the work area by a tape and calculate the amount of scaffold needed. I could use the drawing, but it might not tell me about obstacles that could be in the way if using a wheeled tower. Assess the work area if a ladder could be used and measure the height needed and gathering the correct extension ladder that is needed.
5.3 Describe how to protect work from damage and the purpose of protection in relation to general workplace activities, other occupations and adverse weather conditions
Scaffolding should not be overloaded. The scaffolding must be protected from being covered with paint as it will hide defects. Do not use tower scaffolding in high winds. Or any scaffolding in lightning storm. When not in use protect from moving machinery by placing fencing around. All access equipment must be installed dismantled stored and maintained as recommended by the manufacturer. To inform other occupations the scaffolding is not usable put signs scaffolding is incomplete this will be done by the competent scaffolder. When suitably inspected for working it will have a tag for use. Do not alter scaffold if you are not competent as it could collapse.
5.5 state why the disposal of waste should be carried out in relation to the work.
Disposal of waste should be carried out properly and safely, the correct skips for recycling waste should be used, all the waste should be stored safely and securely until collected. Also placing the waste in the correct skips will help protect the environment and ensuring it doesn’t blow everywhere is vital. For example, you cannot have celotex all over the site so it should be in bags and maybe with a tarpaulin over the top to keep it in the skip. Make sure waste is moved using the correct PPE and lifting aids in accordance with manufactures information so you and everyone on site can avoid being injured when moving the waste. The disposal of waste has to comply with the statutory regulation so there should be different skips for different type of waste. For example, there should be different skips of packaging waste which is generally plastic and another skip for timber waste. Official guidance from HSE says that’s the site should be kept in good order so tidy and clean. They also say there should be storage areas, pedestrian routes and flammable materials should be kept separate to other waste.
6.2 State the purpose of the work programme and explain why deadlines should be kept in relation to: Progress charts, timetables and estimated times organisational procedures for reporting circumstances which will affect the work programme
A work programme or Gantt chart is for showing when certain jobs should take place and their timescales, so the job stays on track for the completion date.
Progress charts are for showing the start and finish date and times of jobs, it is to make sure jobs don’t take longer than they should. The building contractor has an obligation to provide these charts for the builders. If there is no progress plan it would be hard to manage the work as no one would understand the scheduling of events to ensure completion.
Timetables are similar to work programmes, they show when jobs should happen and how long they should take if there is nothing to stop it. The estimated times are how long the jobs are predicted to take, such as all the footings should take 3 weeks to complete. Without the timetables and estimated times nobody would know how long the jobs would take and therefore there would be no finish date for the entire job, so it would be hard to judge for people to price up to do the jobs. If I have a delay in my work I need to inform my supervisor immediately. Inclement weather late deliveries can cause the planned completion to be late.
7.3 describe how to apply safe work practices, follow procedures, report problems and establish the authority needed to rectify them, to: a. provide protection to the work area b. establish a base for equipment c. erect proprietary access equipment to manufacturer’s instructions suitable for the work d. erect non-proprietary access equipment suitable for the work e. place protective screens and notices f. check/monitor equipment during the period of use g. dismantle and store access equipment h. use tools and equipment i. work at height
When working anywhere on site I would wear my PPE hard hat high viz and helmet and safety boots to the site rules and if using power tools use ear defenders and goggles as well. I would use hand tools and power tools to the manufacturer’s instructions. Any hazard I would stop work and inform my supervisor. When working at height I would always have three points of contact on access equipment and use harness if it’s the rules. Any hazard I would report to my supervisor and stop work until advised the area was safe or given permission to rectify them. I must not put myself in danger or others. I would only undertake any correction of work unless given the authority by my supervisor.
7.5 state the needs of other occupations and how to communicate within a team when erecting and dismantling access/working platforms
Other occupations will require that I communicate with them as a scaffolder. I will need to communicate with other trades to ensure the scaffold is complete and safe and time scales of my work and theirs. The other trades are carpenters, electricians and plumbers bricklayers and tilers they will want to know when we will be ready for them to do their bit. Communicating helps the construction flow by co ordinating activities and prevents accidents from people working too close.
7.6 describe how to maintain the tools and equipment used when erecting and dismantling access/working platforms.
Tools and equipment should be kept clean and maintained, used and stored to the manufacture’s instruction.
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